Crib construction



Alg. 29, 1944. E. E. MERRETT 2,357,218

CRIB CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 19, 1942 zsneetKs-sheet 2 if] Y Ff? I BY AT-To Ys.

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE C... SIGHON Earle. E. Merrett, Manitowoc, Wis., assigner to Hamilton Manufacturing Company,

Two

Rivers, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 19, 1942,Serial No. 427,317

2 claims.

The present invention relates to ohildrens furniture, and particularly relates to improvements in childrens beds or infantscribs.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide improvements in the support for the spring mattress support whereby such spring may be supported in one of a plurality of vertical positions in a simplified manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the` following specication, the drawings relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a childs bed or crib embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial side elevational view of one end of the crib, illustrating the manner in which the spring is attachedV to the crib ends and the manner in which one of the side gates is mounted for vertical up and down movement; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview taken substantially alongthe line`3--3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the parts in another position; l Y

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line T-'I of Figure 2; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in connection with a conventional type of childs bed or crib generally indicated at I0. Such crib I0 includes end members I2 and I4 having ground engaging legs which form the ends of the crib. Side members I6 and I8 are disposed between the end members I2 and I4 and are connected thereto. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, both of the side members or side gates I6 and I8 are shown as mounted for up and down movement; but it is to be understood that one side could be xed, leaving only one of the sides movable, if desired. The ends and side members are formed of wood in the embodiment illustrated, but it is to' be understood that they could be made of metal, or other material, within the scope of the present invention.

The side gates I6 and I8 are identical to each other, so that a description of one and a description of the manner in which that one is connected to the end members I2 and I4 will be sufcient for an understanding of the Imanner in which both are connected.

The side gate I 6 includes upper and lower substantially parallel members I9 and 2l) having end portions 22 adjacent the ends I2 and I4. Vertical members 24 are preferably interposed between and connected to the end members I9 and 20 at spaced points therealong to provide an'open-work side.

In order to mount the side gate I6 for up and down movement relative to-the ends I2 and I4 and relative to the spring supporting-surface, slide posts 26 in the form of rods are Xed to the ends I2 and I4 in the plane of the end gate I6. The rods 26 are bent at right angles adjacent the upper ends 28 thereof .and then upwardly, and the ends 28 are screwed to the end members I2 or I4 through suitable apertures provided in the upwardly projecting portions of the ends 28.

The major portion of each rod 26 is spaced from its adjacent end, and the lower end thereof extends through an opening in a bracket 30, which is fixed to the end I2 or I4` adjacent the lower end thereof .and which has a substantially horizontal portion which lies in the path of movement of. the gate I6. Similar brackets 3| are iixed to the ends I2 and i4 at vertically spaced points through which the rods I6 pass to brace the rods and serve as limit stops for the gate I6.

Resilient bumper elements 32 .are disposed on the horizontal portions of the stops 32. Such elements 32 may be in the form of tubular rubber elements, so that they are compressible and resilient, and they are disposed in the path of movement of the gate I6 and are adapted to be engaged by the lower member 2B when it is in its lower position. The bumpers serve to take up the shock of dropping the gate, and also serve to assist in holding the gate in its lower position in a manner that will be described hereinafter.

The gate I6 carries with it latches 34, which are pivotally attached to the ends 22 of the lower member 20 by means of screws 3B. Each of such latches 34 isv formed with a recess adjacent the lower end thereof forming a spear-shaped latch having a horizontal latching surface 38 and a tapered surface 4t. An inbent tab 42 is formed on the outer edge the latch 34 so as to limit the inner pivotal movement thereof, and another inturned tab 44 is formed on the inner edge of the latch recess and is adapted to be engaged by a releasing means to release .the latch, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter.

When the gate I6 is dropped, it will be seen that the lower horizontal bar 20 abuts against the compressible stops 32. The latches 34 are of such a length relative to thev lengths of the elements 32 that asthe gate approaches its lower position the sloping surface lil strikes the horizontal portion of the bracket 3i! to pivot the latch outwardly. In order for the horizontal v'latching surface 38 to drop under the horizontal portions of the brackets 30, the elements 32 are compressed slightly. Thus, when the latches assume the position shown in Figure 3, the resilient elements 32 are compressed and resiliently urge the gate upwardly to a slight extent. 'Ihis secures che gate against accidental displacement and also reduces rattle.

In order to release the latches 34 from the engagement shown in Figure 3, a means is provided by which the latches at both ends ofthe gates may be released simultaneously. Such means includes a rod member 46 which is xed to the underside of themember by means of strap members 48. The rod 4B is free to be turned within the strap members 48. Such rod 46 is provided with a U-shaped projection 50 at'the mid-4 portion thereof, which is the portion adapted to be engaged to turn the rod 45. The ends of rod 46 are turned inwardly, as indicated at 52. Due to the relative position oi the intermediate oiset portion 50 and the inturned ends 52 and the relative sizes thereof, the tendency of the offset portion 50 to drop down will turn the ends 52 inwardly. When the gate is down, such portions will assume the positions shown in Figure 3.

Byl raising the intermediate portion 55 outwardly, either by hand or foot, whichever may be the more convenient, it will be seen that the bent ends 52 are turned from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. As such ends 52 are turned outwardly, they engage the tabs 44 of both of the latch elements S4 to force the latch elements outwardly and out of engagement with the bracket 35. The gate may then be raised to its upper position. f

In order to hold the gate in its upper position, outwardly facing angle members 54 are fixed to the inner sides of the ends I2 and I4 at the proper heights, by suitable screws 55. As the gate is raised, the rod 45 assumes the position shown in Figure 6, so that the bent ends 52 engage the angle members 54. The projections seat within the corners of the angle member 54, as-shown in Figure 6, and the verticalwalls of the angle member 54 are of such height that the projecting ends cannot be moved out of engagement therewith and are prevented from such movement by limit stops formed by the ends 28 of the guide rod or the stops 3 I. To lower the gate, the intermediate portion 50 is pulled outwardly, so that the ends 52 are free of engagement with the stops 54.

The spring mattress support, which is generally indicated at 6I),` is disposed within the sides I5 and I8 and between the ends I2 and I4. Such 60 to the screws 55 or 68 include hook members 10 which are mounted to the sides 52 of the spring 60 adjacent the corners thereof for pivotal and longitudinal movement with respect thereto. Each of such members 10 is in the form of a wire or rod bent to provide substantially horizontal portions 12 and 14, which are connected to the sides 62 by means of clamps or straps 16 having bent portions providing tunnels 18 through which the portions 12 and 14 are slidably and pivotally received. The member 1I) is provided with an intermediate, offset gripping portion 80 which may be conveniently grasped to engage or disengage the hook members1 with the supporting elements 56 or 58. The members 10 are provided with transverse hook portions 82, which are adapted to hook over the shanks of the screws 66 and 68 between the heads of the screws and the ends I2 and I4. When the hooks are engaged, theV heads of the screws will prevent accidental disengagement of the hooks from the screws 66 or 68.

It is a simple operation to move the spring from I one level to the other. The hooks are shown enspring may be of the structure disclosed in the copending application of Guido F. Berger, Serial No. 424,439, filed December 26, 1941, or may assume other forms. generally rectangular outer frame having side members 62. Means are provided for mounting the spring 52 to the ends I2 and I4 at one of a plurality of vertical positions. Such means include screws 5G and 58 which are screwed into the ends I2 and I4 adjacent the corners thereof, the four corner screws 66 being at one level and the four corner screws B8 being at a lower level. The spring 68 may be releasably connected with either of the sets of four screws E6 or 68. When connected to the screws 56, the spring will be at its upper level, where at certain times it is more convenient; and, when connected to the screws 68, the spring is at its lower level, where at times this is more convenient and better.

The means for releasably connecting the spring The spring 5D comprises a gaged with the screws 68 in Figure 2, and are shown disengaged in' Figure 5.l This is accomplished merely by grasping the portions 80, moving the hooked members 10 slightly longitudinally and pivoting them slightly to free them of the screw heads, and then moving them to a position over the other screws and shifting them 1ongitudinally with a slightlypivotal movement to engage the other screws.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bed, a pair of end members, side members connecting said end members, a mattress support, and means selectively connecting said support to said end members at one of a plurality of vertical positions, said means including vertically spaced supporting elements fixed to said end members adjacent the corners thereof land having heads spaced from said end members, and longitudinally slidable members mounted on said mattress support adjacent the corners thereof, said slidable members having hooked portions disposed in planes normal to the direction'of sliding movement; so that said hooked portions are releasably engageable with certain of said elements to selectively support said mattress support at various heights, said movable members having upwardly extending hand gripping portions which extend above said mattress support.

2. In a bed, a pair of end members, side members connecting said end members, a, mattress support, and means selectively connecting said support to said end members at one of a plurality of vertical positions, said means including vertically-spacedV supporting elements iixed to said end members adjacent the corners thereof and having heads spaced from said end members, and longitudinally slidable rod members mounted on said mattress support adjacent the corners thereof, said rod members each being formed with a hooked portion disposed in a plane normal to the direction of sliding movement so that said hooked portions are releasably engageable with certain of said elements to selectively support said mattress support at various heights, said rod members being formed with loop portions extending upwardly above said mattress support to provide hand grips, and means on opposite sides of said loop portions slidably connecting said rod members to said mattress support. l

EARLE E. MERRETT. 

